73 [64] Captive spirits.txt (1/2)

Let's turn back the clock to ten days ago...

The intelligence-gathering team that had left the village was headed for the Rastabel Empire, using magic to disguise their appearance so that they would not be seen.

The time is past noon.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. Maybe it's the army of Rastabel that we were talking about.

'I see. 'Well, I'm sure Rastabel's army would have something useful to tell us. No soldier would talk about such things on the march, so we'll approach them at rest. Don't forget to disappear, everyone.

”'Yes!'

(But there is no country in this direction ... are you going to bypass it and attack it? No, then it would be better for another country to go in one direction to distract the enemy... If we continue on, we'll end up in the forest. We should get some information out of them, after all.)

No matter how much of an army they had, it would be reckless to deal with the demons that spread through the Forest of Demon Fog.

In the first place, it's difficult for an army to function as an army in the Demon Fog Forest, where giant trees are overgrown with them.

However, Sheil understands that and does not abandon the possibility that the destination of his march is the Forest of Demon Fog.

That is because, in the unlikely event that the Forest of Mist is the target, the existence of the village could be revealed.

After that, Siyu and the others kept a certain distance from Rastabel's troops and listened to the situation, waiting for the time when they would go to rest.

When the sun began to set, the spirits easily infiltrated the position of the army, which finally began to prepare for the night camp.

They carefully observe the soldiers, occasionally approaching right up to their side, but they don't show any signs of noticing the soldiers.

(Okay, spread out in pairs. When you have seen and heard a certain amount of things, gather at the place you just saw. If something happens, run away immediately. Understood?”)

(”'Yes, I understand.'”)

The spirits quickly paired up at Siyu's signal and scattered to this and that direction.

''Alright, we'll go too.''

(”Yes.”)

The one paired with Siyu was a relatively young spirit among those who had gone to gather information.

Her name was Hartia.

She was a wind spirit that was quite quick, even if not as quick as Hoomil.

The reason why Sheil took her as a pair is also to support her inexperience, but the implications of being able to take on the role of a messenger in an emergency are significant.

While confirming that he is not seen, he gathers information while listening to the soldiers who are chatting while hiding in their blind spots.

The topic of conversation was all about the previous battle, Dizenaire, and unnaturally, there was nothing about this expedition's destination that was most likely to be discussed.

(That's strange... If they hadn't told the soldiers where they were going, they should have been talking about where they were going. In that case...are they under orders not to talk about it? But for what...?)

Questions ran through my mind, but of course there was no way I could find an answer.

While thinking, Siuil and Hartia, who are working to gather information, saw a tent that is more luxurious than the surrounding objects.

There were several soldiers standing in that tent who looked like guards, and it was easy to predict that there were important people among them.

('Heartier, we're going in there. Be ready to escape at any time.'')

(”Ha, yes.”)

More breathless than ever, they slipped in as soon as the soldier who had come to report on time asked permission to stand guard and open the hanging curtain.

Inside the tent, there were numerous furnishings that didn't look like they were just going to camp for the night.

I could see a soft bed instead of a sleeping bag, a wardrobe and a tea set to a brightly colored crystal that looked like a brightly colored light that I couldn't quite identify.

In this space, surrounded by things that were clearly not necessary, a man was sitting in a chair.

Judging from his appearance and atmosphere, there is no doubt that he is the general commander of this army.

The man receives a stack of paper that looks like documents from the soldier and listens to the report while silently looking at it.

''Also, the scouts that have been released around the area have reported that there are no problems. Currently, they have been replaced with another unit and are resting.

Is that it?

Ha!

Okay. Get back... No, no, wait a minute.

The man was about to ask the soldier to back off when he finished his report, but when he called for restraint, he pulled an envelope out of his desk drawer and handed it to him.

'Take this to the captain of the First Division. Tell him to come here when he checks the contents.

'Ha! I understand!

(That envelope... should we follow it? No, if the troop leader who delivers that thing is going to be here, I'd better keep hiding out.)

Siyu hesitated slightly, but from their conversation, he chose to stay here.

After saluting, the soldier who received the envelope immediately ran out of the tent.

While waiting for the unit commander, the man sitting in the chair is busy looking through the documents.

Sheil and Hartia looked into the pages every time they rolled up the pages, but there was no information on the march, the soldiers' status reports, etc.

After a while, the man takes his eyes away from the material, and at the same time as he takes a breath, he begins to play with the accessory that was hanging around his neck.

(Taking a break? Hmm?

Suddenly, a tremendous sense of emptiness hit Siyu and Hartia.

Their legs trembled, they became breathless, and they couldn't stand properly.

(Not good! At this rate...)

Naturally, in such a state, it was difficult to maintain the magic that hid their appearance, and they had to expose their bodies in front of the man.

The man saw Sheil and Hartia, but strangely enough, they didn't seem to be upset at all.

Seeing the two wobbling and shifting into a fighting stance, the man raised the corners of his mouth in a grin.